Tuning peg for musical instruments



June 26, 1951 NYHAGEN 2,558,059

TUNING PEG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. '7, 1948 INVENTOR. fim/vzy K IVY/1465M Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUNING PEG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Barney R. Nyhagen, New York, N. Y. Application October 7, 1948, Serial No. 53,349

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a tuning peg for stringed musical instruments.

Stringed musical instruments frequently require re-tuning due to stretching of the strings and slipping of the pegs in the openings in the peg box and in order to do so it is necessary to hold the instrument so that sufiicient pressure can be exerted on the heads of the pegs to effect turning thereof in the peg box. It is particularly difficult to turn the pegs when the instrument is held in playing position especially if the heads of the pegs are disposed in alignment with the peg box. In order to overcome the aforesaid difiiculties and to render it convenient to turn the pegs when the instrument is held in playing position, the present invention provides a tuning peg having an adjustable head which is adapted to be set so as to dispose the length thereof at right angles with reference to the length of the peg box without loosenin the shank of the peg in the opening in the peg box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tuning peg including a head adjustably secured to the shank of the peg by a screw extending through the head and having its inner end anchored in the shank whereby the peg may be adjusted in the openin in the peg box to tune the string and thereafter the head set so as to dispose the length thereof in right angular relation with reference to the length of the peg box so as to render it convenient for re-tuning the string without removing the instrument from playing position.

More particularly the invention comprehends in a modified form thereof, a tuning peg including a head and a shank provided with interfitting ends for connecting the shank with the head for movement therewith and which head is arranged in normally tensioned engagement with the shank and is adapted to be retracted from engagement With the shank against the tension of the spring for resettin the head in adjusted relation with reference to the shank.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanyin drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illus-- trated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of a tuning peg shown partially in section and constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken approximatel on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the peg box of a musical instrument showing the tuning pegs in position therein with the length of the heads disposed in right angular relation with reference to the peg box.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a tuning peg embodying a modified form of the invention and showing the same partially in longitudinal section.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference and more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, the tuning peg is shown in its application to the peg box of a violin but it is to be understood that the same is adapted for use in any stringed musical instrument. The tuning peg includes an elongated tapered shank IO adapted to frictionally engage in aligned openings II in the opposite walls of the peg box !2 of a stringed musical instrument such as a violin fragmentarily shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The shank I0 is formed with one or more transverse openings l3 for receiving the end of the string and the shank is provided with a head I 4 which is adjustably connected therewith for movement about an axis extending longitudinally through the shank to dispose the head in any angular position with reference thereto.

The head I4 is relatively narrower in width than in length and is formed with concave opposite side faces [5. The head is provided with an axial bore IS in which is arranged a headed screw I! having its threaded inn-er end anchored in a threaded socket IS in the outer end of the shank l0. Arranged between the shank I0 and the head I4 is an apertured friction disk [9 through which the screw 1! extends and which grippingly engages the confronting ends of the shank and head for preventing relative movement thereof when the screw I1 is tightened in the threaded socket I8.

The friction disk I9 may be formed of any desired material having roughened opposite faces adapted to frictionally engage with the confronting ends of the head and shank. It has been found that a fabric disk with emery or comminuted granular material adhesively secured to opposite faces thereof provides suificient gripping engagement between the head and shank for preventing relative rotation of the shank when the head is tightened thereagainst by tightening the screw ll. Preferably the screw I 1 and the socket iii are provided with righthanded threads for the pegs employed in conjunction with the E and A strings of the instrument While the screw H and socket l8 of the pegs for the D and G strings are provided with lefthanded threads.

Constructed in this manner, the pegs of stringed musical instruments may be tightened in the peg box so as to tune the strings thereof and thereafter the head set so as to dispose the length thereof in right angular relation with reference to the length of the peg box as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This is accomplished by loosening the screws I! and then resetting the heads to the right angular position after which the screws are tightened to hold the same in the set position. When so arranged, the heads of the pegs are in a position that they may be readily grasped and rotated in the openings in the peg box for re-tuning the strings by gripping the same between the thumb and forefinger of the hand of the player which fingers the strings while the other hand is free to stroke the bow over the strings with the violin held in the usual playing position.

The friction disk l9 may consist of two plies of emery cloth or the like which is adhesively secured to the confronting faces of the shank l and head [4 with the emery coated side of' the plies disposed in engagement. The frictional engagement of the emery cloth prevents relative slippage of the head and shank when the screw ll-is tightened in the socket it.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the tuning pegsimilarly consists of an elongated tapered shank 2i having-one or more openings 22 forreceiving the endof the string for windin the same thereon by turning the head 23 to thereby tune the string. In this form of the invention, however, the shank and head are formed with interfitting recess and projection 24 and 25 formed on the confronting ends thereof for adjustably connecting the parts together. The recess and projection may be of any preferred form to permit of increments of adjustment of the head with reference to the shank about the axis thereof. As illustrated, the recess 2 is in the form of an eight pointed star while-the projection 25 is of similar shape and slidably fits the recess which permits of eight ad'- justments of the head with reference to the shank.

The head is formed with a bore 28 extending axially therethrough in which is arranged a headed screw 27 with its protruding inner end threadedly engaged in the threaded socket 28 in the outer end of the shank 25 for Securing the head with the shank. In order to provide means for retaining the head in normally tensioned engagement' against the shank, a coiled expansion spring 29' is arranged in surrounding relation with the screw 21 between the head thereof and the inner end of the enlarged outer portion of the bore 25. This retains the projection 25 in engagement in the recess 24 for turning of the shank with the head but permits of retraction of the head on the screw 21 to disengage the head and shank without loosening the shank in the peg box of the instrument or disturbing the tuned string and-the adjustment of the head to dispose the same in right angular relation with reference to the length'of the peg box as illustrated in Fig. 3 in connection'with the previously described form of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A tuning peg for a stringed musical instrument including a tapered shank adapted to frictionally engage in an opening in the peg box of the instrument and having a threaded socket extending inwardly from the outer end thereof, a head having an axial bore extending therethrough, and a screw extending freely through said bore to permit of free turning movement of the head thereon, and said screw having an enlargement at the outer end retaining said head thereon and having a threaded inner end engaged in the threaded socket of the shank for tightening the head against the shank so as to turn therewith when tightening the string on the shank, and said connection between the head and shank. permitting of the loosening of the head.

with reference to the shank for resetting of the head in right angular relation with reference to the length of the peg box without loosening the shank in the opening in the peg box.

2. A tuning peg for a'stringed musical instrument including a tapered shank adapted to frictionally engage in an opening in the peg box of the instrument and. having a threaded socket extending inwardly from the outer end thereof, a head having an axial bore extending therethrough, a screw extending freely through said bore to permit of free turning movement of the head thereon, and said screw having an enlargement at the outer end retaining said head thereon and having athreaded inner end engaged in the threaded socket inthe shank for connecting the head and shank, and meanscarried by the COIIfrontihg ends of the head and shank for retaining the same against relative rotation when the head is tightened'against the shank and permitting of the loosening of the head with reference to the shank for. resetting of the head in right angular relation with reference to the length of the peg box without loosening the shank in the opening in the pegbox.

. 3. A tuning peg for a stringed musical instrument including a tapered shank adapted to frictionallyengage in an opening in the peg box of the instrument and having a threaded-socket ex tending inwardly from the outer end thereof, a head having an axial bore extending therethrough, a screw extending freely through said bore to permit of free turning movement of the head thereon, and said screw having an enlargement at the outer end retaining said head thereoniand. having a threaded inner end engaged in the threaded socket in the shank for connecting.

the head and shank, and a fabric element having granular coated surfaces carried by said head and shank for retaining the head and shank against relative movement when the head is tight-. ened against the shank and permitting of the loosening of the head with reference to the shankfor resetting of the head in right angular relation with reference to the length of the peg box With-.-- out. loosening the shank in the opening in the peg box.

4. A. tuning peg for a stringed musical instrument including a tapered shank adapted to fric tionally engage in an opening. in the peg box of,

the instrument and having a threaded socket extending inwardly from the outer end thereof, a head having an axial bore extending therethrough, a headed screw arranged in said bore with its inner end engaged in the threadedsocket in the shank for connecting the head and shank, and interengaging socket and projection carried by the confronting ends of the head and shank for retaining the same against relative movement when the head is tightened against the shank.

BARNEY R. NYHAGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inqthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Datev 1,672,348 Sharpe June 5., 1928 1,721,904 Grover July 23., 1929.

. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 424,348 Germany Jan. 27, 1926 710,231. France June 1, 1931 

